Vehicle door pocket



Patented Nov. 5, 1935 p v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE DOOR- POCKET Otto F. Graebner, Detroit, Mich., assignor to The Murray Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application December 19, 1932, Serial No. 647,906

9 Claims; (01. 296-44) This invention relates to vehicle bodies and and the sides with the material about the aper- I particularly to a pocket for a door thereof which ture I2. The pan extends substantially the disis rigid in construction, waterproof, which adds tance of the opening therebelow to form a closure strength to the door and which is neat in apwith the metal below the lower edge of the openpearance. ing. The fiange I 4 is welded to the panel to form of the pocket against the face of the finishing form a finish for the pocket on its inner surface.

member. A pocket of this type was bulky while The outer covering on the door is retained by the cardboard or cloth pocket which projected suitable securing elements about the opening in through an aperture in the inner door panel was the panel and a door of rigid material is hinged objectionable in view of the fact that the rain or thereto which completely covers the opening and the water employed in washing the car would run forms a smooth appearance on the inner surface 15 down between the door panels and cause the of the door. Suitable fastening means is propocket to become wet. vided for securing the edge of the door opposite The present invention employs an aperture in to the hinge portion for retaining it in closed metal member which extends along the upper entering the door between the panels will have edge of the aperture and a considerable distance no contact with the inner surface of the pocket below its lower edge to form the pocket and also which thereby will always be retained dry and a strengthening member for the panel. Where offers complete protection for objects stored heretofore the opening in the panel weakened therein. 26 the inner panel construction, the present con- Accordingly, the main objects of my invention struction adds strength to the panel and prevents are to provide a pocket for a door which is comit from readily kinking and bending. The extenpletely moisture proof and made of metal; to sion of the inwardly pressed member below the provide a pocketfor a door which entirely en- 30 lower edge of the opening forms a pocket which comp-asses the opening in the inner panel and to retains any element, even tools, without being apenclose the opening and to strengthen the panel; parent from the outer surface of the door. to provide securing elements about the aperture Figure 1 is a broken plan view of an inner face in the panel for receiving and retaining in firm of a vehicle door having a pocket which embodies position about the opening a cover element for 35. features of my invention, the inner surface of the panel; to provide a Fig. v2 is an enlarged sectional View of the stru hinged cover for said opening in said cover eleture illustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 me-nt which is substantially rigid and which thereof, forms a continuation of the paneling at the open- Fig. 3 is an enlarged broken view of the pocket ing to form a smooth outer surface to the cover 40 illustrated in Fig. 1, element; and, in general, to provide a waterproof Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the structure illuspocket for a door which is neat in appearance, trated in. Fig. 3, taken on the line 4--4 thereof, which is flush with the inner surface of the door Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the structure illusand which adds strength to the door paneling. trated in Fig. 3, taken on the line 55 thereof, Other objects and features of novelty of my inand vention will be either specifically pointed out or t Fig. 6 is a. sectional view of the metal portion will become apparent when referring, for a better of the panel and door pocket which goes to make understanding of my invention, to the following up my invention. description in conjunction with the accompany- In Fig. 1,, I have illustrated a door Ill having an ing drawing, wherein: 5 inner panel Ii of conventional design. The panel Apertures I6 are provided in the panel at the 60 I I is provided with an aperture I2 which forms sides and above the opening beyond the junction an entrance into the door pocket. A metal with the flange I4. Suitable outwardly and upstamping I3 is drawn inwardly in pan shape, as wardly extending fingers I! are provided in the illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 6 having an outer panel II below the lower opening for the purpose flange I4 thereabout which is mated at the top of securing a finish panel to the inner panel of 55 It has been the practice heretofore to provide a water-tight connection therewith and to brace a cardboard pocket or one of cloth in the cardand strengthen the paneling. A cover of cloth or board facing of the inner panel of the door or to other material I5 is secured to the inner surface supporta cloth on the face of the cardboard havof the metal stamping I3 and to the inner face 10. ing elastic. at the top thereof to draw the top edge of the panel I I which is encompassed thereby to 20 the inner panel and utilizes an inwardly pressed position. In this type of construction any water 20 the vehicle door. The finish panel may be made of a sheet of material I 8 such as cardboard, heavy paper or the like, which entirely covers the panel I I except for the opening I2. A covering material I9, which is preferably of cloth, felt or the like, although any other material may be employed, is placed on the material I8 except for the opening 2| which mates with the opening I2 in the panel I I. A frame 22 of cardboard, or like material, is stitched to the material I8 about the opening 2I to retain the material I9 thereagainst and to strengthen the material about the opening. A cover 23, having a substantially rigid central portion 24 which may be heavy cardboard, fibre or the like, is covered with the material I9 and stitched along its lower edge to the frame 22 and material I8 to form a hinge. The frame 22 is spaced from the material I8 at the lower edge by the cloth material I9 which is provided therebetween topermit the lower edge of the frame 22 to be received by the upstanding fingers IT to secure the material I8 against the panel I I along the lower edge of the pocket. Suitable expanding clips 25 are provided in the material I8 to mate with the aperture I6 provided in the panel II to extend therethrough to secure the finish paneling to the panel I I. In this manner the finish paneling is first moved downwardly to have the frame 22 secured by the finger I1 and thereafter the securing clips 25 are pushed through the apertures I 6 to thereby secure the paneling tightly against the panel II about the pocket. Other clips 25 are employed about the outer edge of the finish paneling to extend-through aperture I6 at the edge of the paneling II to secure the finish paneling to the marginal edges of the door.

The closure element 24 of the finish paneling is provided with a glove fastener 21, or a similar fastener, to be mated with a portion thereof secured to the paneling II to thereby retain the cover in closed position. A suitable tab 28 may be employed in the vicinity of the fastener 21 to effect its release when the tab 28 is pulled upon by an operator. The cover element 24 is then swung downwardly from the opening in the finish paneling and the opening I2 of the metal panel I I of the door so that the pocket will be accessible to an operator.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be noted that the pressed stamping I3 is so formed as to have the flange I4 disposed in a plane. When the inner panel of the door slopes to conform to the curvature of the body, the panel II is offset outwardly,

- as at 29, to have the metal thereof disposed in the plane of the flange I4 so as to be engaged thereby. The members 13 can therefore be constructed from a single die and be employed on inner door panels of any curvature in view of provision of the ledge 29 on the panel which will be engaged by the flange I4 of the member I3.

The pocket thus formed is flush with the inner surface of the panel and presents a, very neat appearance thereto since the cover element 24 for enclosing the pocket is flush with the inner .cover element of the door. The pocket is, however, readily accessible through the release of the button fastener 21 through the pulling of the fiap 28 and the material within the pocket is protected by the metal element I3 both from damage and from moisture. The metal element I3 materially braces the panel and adds to the strength of the door. The finish cover panel is releasably secured to the door through expanding elements which retain the cover in unit engagement with the panel at the edges of the door and about the opening of the pocket. The pocket is disposed toward the lower end of the door to permit the movement of the window downwardly within the door without interfering with the pocket. 5

While I have described and illustrated but a single embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with an inner and outer metal panel of a vehicle door, the former having an aperture therein, of a dish-shaped metal element disposed between said panels of greater vertical dimension than the vertical dimension of the opening secured to said inner panel and encompassing said opening.

2. The combination with an inner and outer metal panel of a door having a window therein, the former having an aperture below the lowermost position of the lower window edge thereof, of a dish-shaped metal element disposed between said panels of greater vertical dimension than the vertical dimension of the opening secured to said inner panel and encompassing said opening.

3. The combination with an inner and outer metal panel of a door having a window therein, the former having an aperture below the lowermost position of the lower window edge thereof, of an inwardly drawn metal element disposed between said panels having a lateral flange secured to said inner panel and covering said opening to form a receptacle and a bracing element for the panel.

4. The combination with. an inner and outer metal panel of a door having a window therein, the former having an aperture below the lowermost position of the lower window edge thereof, of a dish-shaped metal element disposed between 'said panels having a greater vertical dimension than the vertical dimension of the opening and secured to said inner panel and encompassing said opening, and a finishing element for the inner panel releasably secured thereto about the aperture of the panel and having an aperture therein.

5. The combination with an inner and outer metal panel of a door having a window therein, the former having an aperture below the lowermost position of the lower window edge thereof, of a dish-shaped metal element disposed between said panels having a greater vertical dimension 5;; than the vertical dimension of the opening and secured to said inner panel and encompassing said opening, a finishing element for the inner panel releasably secured thereto about the aperture of the inner panel and having an aperture therein, and a hinge element secured to said finish element for covering said aperture.

6. The combination with an inner and outer metal panel of a door having a window therein, the former having an aperture below the lower- 5 most position of the lower window edge thereof, of a dish-shaped metal element disposed between said panels having a greater vertical dimension than the vertical dimension of the opening and secured to said inner panel and encompassing said opening, a finishing element for the inner panel releasably secured thereto about the aperture of the inner panel and having an aperture therein, a hinge element secured to said finish element for covering said aperture, and securing means for said element for retaining it in closed position.

7. The combination with an inner and outer metal panel of a door having a window therein, the former having an aperture. below the lowermost position of the lower window edge thereof, of an inwardly drawn metal element disposed between said panels having a lateral flange secured to said inner panel and covering said opening to form a receptacle and bracing element for the inner panel, and a finish element for the inner panel having releasable engaging means for attachment to said panel about said aperture.

8. The combination with an inner and outer metal panel of a door having a window therein, the former having an aperture below the lowermost position of the lower window edge thereof, of an inwardly drawn metal element disposed between said panels having a lateral flange secured to said inner panel and covering said opening to form a receptacle and bracing element for the inner panel, a finish element for the inner panel having releasable engaging means for attachment to said panel about said aperture, and a hinge element secured to said finish element for covering said aperture.

9. The combination with an inner and outer metal panel of a door having a window therein, the former having an aperture below the lowermost position of the lower window edge thereof, of an inwardly drawn metal element disposed between said panels having a lateral flange secured to said inner panel and covering said opening to form a receptacle and bracing element for the inner panel, a finish element for the inner panel having releasable engaging means for attachment tosaid panel about said aperture, a hinge element secured to said finish element and covering said aperture, and securing means on said hinge element for releasably retaining it in closed position over said aperture.

OTTO F. GRAEBNER.

eenrirtenre or CGRRECTEON.

iatent No. 2,019,67t November s, 1935.

OTTO F. GRAEENER.

it is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification 0! the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, first column, line 33, beginning with the word "Figure'. strike out all to and including "surface." in line 11, second column, and insert the same after line 49, of said second column; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 10th day of December, A. D. 1935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

